ALBANY – State legislatures representing the Chenango County area took a largely positive attitude toward the State of State Address given by Governor Andrew Cuomo in Albany on Wednesday.

While the Governor’s 2014 agenda encompasses a myriad of issues, such as education reform, investment in infrastructure and continued emphasis on New York State tourism, a bulk of it focuses on providing tax relief – something local state representatives say has been a priority for the Chenango County area for years.

“Overall, he offered a solid message,” said Senator Tom Libous (R-Binghamton) in a phone interview Wednesday. “The opportunities that we can best grasp are the tax cuts, manufacturing tax cuts, and encouraging tourism throughout the state.”

The Governor’s plans for tax relief revolve around a $2 billion state surplus by 2016-2017 that will be used to provide tax relief for homeowners and businesses. His proposal offers a two-year property tax freeze for homeowners, subject to two conditions: the taxing jurisdiction must adhere to the state mandated 2 percent tax cap in the first year, and adhere to the tax cap while also taking steps to share services or consolidate with another jurisdiction in the second year.

In addition, the Governor proposed providing tax relief based on ability to pay for households earning up to $200,000 via a property tax “circuit breaker.” This move would offer $1 billion in tax relief when fully phased in, he said.

Cuomo’s proposal also offers relief on the manufacturing front by providing a refundable credit that would be equal to 20 percent of a firm’s annual real property taxes; and eliminating the corporate income tax rate for Upstate manufacturers.

According to Assemblyman Clifford Crouch (R-Bainbridge), the Governor’s plans to provide tax relief are a “big step in the right direction.”

“His proposed tax cut plan is broad and incorporates many of the ideas I have long advocated for,” said Crouch. “Tax cuts are a big step in the right direction, but we must not disregard spending; we must ensure there is a responsible balance between the two.”

While Wednesday’s address focused heavily on tax relief and economic growth, there was something noticeable missing: the topic of high volume hydraulic fracturing.